• Queensland has revealed its AU$1.16 billion ($874 million) plan for the current and future energy needs of the state
  • By the second half of 2017, the Australian state plans to launch a reverse auction for up to 400 MW renewable energy capacity
  • It will also undertake a specific process to secure up to 100 MW of energy storage before 2020
  • State government has decided to remove cost of Solar Bonus Scheme or FIT from the electricity bills of consumers for the next three years

Australia’s Queensland has announced that it will be undertaking a reverse auction for up to 400 MW of renewable energy capacity. It plans to launch the same in the second half of 2017.

The government will also undertake a specific process to secure up to 100 MW of energy storage before 2020.

Queensland is one of the prominent states in the country that support the growth of renewables, especially solar power. Since January 2016, the Australian state has committed to large scale renewable capacity of almost 1,200 MW. The state is targeting 50% renewable energy target by 2030. By 2020, it wants to see one million solar rooftops or 3 GW of solar PV on Queensland’s rooftops. The state currently has the highest number of rooftop solar installations in the country (1.7 GW).

Queensland hopes to drive AU$6.7 billion ($5.04 billion) of new investment and increase employment by 6400 to 6700 full time equivalent positions on an average per year from 2020 to 2030.

Queensland will also set up a centralized web portal in H2/2017 to provide integrated information service for renewable energy project proponents, according to the ‘Powering Queensland Plan,’ which aims to spend AU$1.16 billion ($874 million) to address its current and future energy needs.

Queensland has also revealed its plan to remove the cost of its Solar Bonus Scheme (SBS) or FIT from electricity bills for the next three years. The cost will be borne by the government at an estimated cost of AU$770 million ($580 million).

The ‘Powering Queensland Plan’ can be accessed on the website of Government of Queensland.